Change-speed gear.



PATENTED MAR. 27, 1906.

J, THANNHEIMER. CHANGE SPEED GEAR. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 18, 1905.

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WITWES 8E8 No. 816,401. PATENTED MAR. 27, 1906.

J. THANNHEIMER.

CHANGE SPEED GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 18, 1905. I

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J OSEF THANNHEIMER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHNANDERSON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CHANGE-SPEED GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 27, 1906.

Application filed September 18, 1905. Serial No. 278,888.

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEF THANNHEIMER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Detroit, county of IVayne, State of Michigan, have inventeda certain new and useful Improvement in Change-Speed Gear; and I declarethe following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to change speed gear. 7

It has for its object an improved mechanism for changing the speedbetween a drivingshaft and a driven shaft, the change being gradualbetween fast speed in one direction and a reverse speed which may beequally fast in the opposite direction.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a horizontal section of the device. Fig. 2is an elevation (some parts of the frame being in section) of a clampemployed to hold the friction transfer-gear against the disks. Fig. 3 isa side view, partly in section, showing the lever which shifts thefriction transfer-gear.

Upon a suitable base and frame A are mounted the primary driving-shaft1, an intermediate disk-bearing shaft 2, and the ultimately driven shaft3. The primary shaft 1 has mounted upon it a friction-disk 4 and thebelt-wheel 4 or other means for driving it and a pinion 11. Theintermediate shaft 2 has mounted upon it a friction-disk 5 and a pinion20. The disks 4 and 5 are arranged in the same plane. Upon the frame ismounted a carriage 6, which carries two pairs of friction-wheels. Onepair 7 and 8 are on the same shaft, both on the same side of the disks 4and 5. The second pair 9 and 10 on a common shaft contact the disks 4and 5 on the opposite side. These friction-wheels are arranged to bebrought into strong frictional contact with the disks 4 and 5 or to bemoved from contact therewith by a clamp mechanism, (shown in Fig. 2,)which will be explained more at length hereinafter.

The small pinion 11 on the main drivingshaft 1 gears with a large wheel12 on a drum 13, that is mounted loosely upon the shaft 3. The drumcarries within it several shafts mounted in bearings around the shaft 3.These shafts are alike, and a plurality are employed in order that unduewear may be prevented. Each shaft is provided with a pair of gears, oneof which, 14, meshes with a gear-wheel 15 on a sleeve 16, that ismounted on the shaft 3 and rotates thereon. The second pinion 18 on theshaft 17 meshes with pinion 19, that is keyed to the shaft 3. On theintermediate shaft 2 is the pinion 20, which meshes with a gear 21 onthe sleeve 16. With these systems of gears the shaft 3 may be drivenwith a speed which is the algebraic sum of the speed that will be givento the drum by the shaft 1 and the gearing connecting it with the drumand the speed that will be given to the sleeve 16 by the shaft 2 and thegearing connecting it with the sleeve. Thus if the shaft 2 be held stillthe motion given to the shaft 1 will be transmitted through the drum andthrough the pinions on the shaft 17, which would roll on the gear 15,receivin no change because of the sleeve 16 and won d convey to theultimate shaft 3 only that motion which was due to the motion of theshaft 1 but if any motion now be given to the shaft 2 that motion willbe added algebraically to the motion of the shaft 3, increasing it ordecreasing it, as the case may be. Of course the relative size ofintermeshin gears have their effect. Thus if the shaft 2'be the force ofthe shaft 1, and if the shaft 2 be brought into action the force whichnow varies the speed of the shaft 3 does not detract from the forcecarried through to the shaft 3 from the shaft 1; but if there is anyloss of force because of imperfect frictional contact such loss effectsthe variant and not the directly-transmitted force, and if there is anyloss because of imperfect friction such loss will tend to counteract thevariation or increase the variation rather than to destroy the actualforce of the shaft 3. The speed of the shaft 2, which varies the shaft3, is itself varied by shifting the friction-wheels with respect to thetwo disks 4 and 5. In order that the friction-grip of thefriction-wheels on the friction-disks may be as complete as possible, Iprovide the clamp shown in Fig. 2.

The friction-wheels 7 and 9 are journaled in swinging hangers 31 and 32,which swing from a cross-bar 30, supported above the frame. The lowerends of these hangers are connected by adjustable links 33 and 34 withlinks 33 and 34 The inner end of link 33 held still the'shaft 3 will beturned with is pivoted to a link 33 which reaches across the face of adisk 39. The inner end. of

link 34 is pivoted to link 34, which reaches across the same disk 89.The links 33 34' are curved to reach around the axes upon which the diskturns and to reach slightly more than half-way around, so that the linkspass a dead center when the frictionwheels are brought into closecontact with the disks 4 and 5. The spring connection between the linksand the hangers prevents this. The friction contact is made by turningthe axle 38 of the disk 39 to the position shown in Fig. 2, and. releaseis made by a short reverse turn. by lever 40. The disk 39 is mounted ona sleeve 46, to which it is keyed or otherwise secured. The sleeve 46slides on shaft 38, to which it is splined. The shaft 38 is in fixedbearings, in which it is capable of oscillation.

The entire carriage which-carries the friction-wheel is shifted quicklyby the lever 41, which is fulcrumed to the main frame A and connected bylink 42 and ear 43 on the sliding frame 44.

I/Vhat I claim is 1. In a change-speed gear, in combination with aplurality of parallel shafts,- disks carried thereby and in the sameplane, gears carried by said shafts, a driven shaft, gears mountedthereupon and adapted to be actuated by the gears on both of saidfirst-mentioned shafts, and friction -wheels incontact with each side ofsaid disks, substantially as described.

2. In combination. with a shaft and a disk carried thereby, a secondshaft and a disk carried thereby in the same plane with the first,friction-wheels engaging on both sides The axle 38 is controlledofboth'said disks,- a'reciprocator'y frame carrying bothsaidfriction-wheels, means for reciprocating said frame, means forshifting the wheels into and out of engagement with the disks, the saidmeans consisting of a shaft, a disk thereon, links actuating thebearings of said friction wheels, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a pair of shafts and friction-disks carriedthereby, a plurality of friction-wheels on each side of said disks,means whereby said wheels may be moved to a position ofmotion-transmitting contact with said disks, a driven shaft and meansconnecting the same with both of said. firstnamed shafts whereby it issimultaneously actuated by'both,-substantially as described.

4. In combination, a pair of friction-disks, bearings therefor,transfer-wheels frictionally engaging said disks, an oscillatingfrictionwheel actuator and spring connections between: the actuator andthe wheels, substantially as described.

5. In combination, a pair'of friction-disks, bearings therefor,transfenwheels engaging said disks on opposite sides thereof, swinginghangers carrying said transfer-wheels, an actuator for said hangers,spring connections between-said actuator and said hangers, and meanswhereby the actuator passes a point of unstable equilibrium and rests ateither side thereof in a position of stable equilibri um, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specificationin the presence of twowitnesses.

JOSEF THANNHEIMER.

Witnesses:

l\/IAY E. Kerr, CHARLES F. BURTON.

